Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi all, Thursday was not a great day for Zep. He is about 4 weeks out from his last chemo treatment. The first 3 were doxorubicin, and the last 3 carbopblatin. We went for a bit longer walk than usual on Thursday morning, and he got in/ out of the creek (it was a little cold), and did ok, but an hour or two after, he became really pale (gums almost white), and seemed vacant. We thought we were going to be going to the emergency vet instead of thanksgiving dinner. I fed him a bunch of chicken and treats, and he seemed to improve throughout the day, and has gotten steadily better since. On friday we went for a brief walk, but he seemed to want to stop more than usual. Have any of you had any experience with a similar thing so far out of chemo? I know cardiomyopathy can be a side effect of chemo, but are the symptoms commonly evident a month after chemo, or are we getting all worked up for nothing? Any comments or suggestions? He is scheduled for his follow up chest film tomorrow and ultrasound on Monday...
Zep and pack (Brad and Dana)
Online
Chemo is cumulative so sometimes the later treatments hit them harder although 4 weeks from the last treatment does seem like a long time ago. I would see what the tests show. Are you using an immune stimulant such as Power Mushrooms? That really pepped my dog up after chemo.
Pam
Hi Pam, yes Zep is on Power Mushrooms 3, 3xday. Also a basic vitamin, some meds (metacam and Dasuquin). He was on a bunch of other stuff (astra essence, antioxidents, another vitamin, and a couple of homeopathic liquids,) but we felt like we were overloading him with suppliments (>25 pills a day) - and he no longer likes pill pockets. We also make his food at home (chicken, turkey or beef, vegetables, shitake mushrooms, bone meal, oatmeal, sweet potato, fish oil, etc.)
Our Abby was SO tired after her 5th chemo treatment. I didn't realize at the time that the effects are cumulative, so tried to take her on our usual walk the day after her treatment. She laid down in the street only 1/4 of the way into it and wouldn't budge. I was so freaked out!
I try to always remember to warn folks now to expect that any effects seen will be cumulative and be very pronounced by later treatments. We didn't do anything special after Abby's 5th and 6th treatments, but just took it easy for a few days and then she was her old self again.
Hang in there Zep!
Jackie, Angel Abby's mom
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
He did pretty well after his last chemo, and other than a few down days, and some hair loss he had recovered pretty well. It just really worried us that it was over 4 weeks ago. He also had a normal CBC last week. It really just did seem to be that day, and a little of the next. I've been feeding him a bit more and that seems to have helped. On a neighbor's suggestion I've tried some clorophyll supplimentation, I figured it probably will not harm him. He has been running around like a puppy for the last two days, but I've been nervous about pushing him too far. He is a bull. We are just really worried about mets or cardiomyopathy (but who wouldn't be, right?) Chest films are today and ultrasound is this coming monday... Ugh. Trying to Be More Dog . Not easy.
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